Alfa Romeo Junior test: The cheapest and smallest car of the brand (with video)

El Alfa Romeo Junior It is the new addition to the Italian brand, and also has the honor of being the first electric car of AlfaIn any case, it is also sold in a hybrid version with an Eco label. We travelled to Malaga to test it on the roads of the Costa del Sol. The starting price of this crossover is 29.000 euros for the hybrid.

First of all, it is important to explain the curiosity of its name, because this car was going to be called Alfa Milano. In fact, this is how it was presented in April 2024. However, the Italian government quickly announced that it was not permitted to call it that due to a protective law that prevents the use of flags, names or symbols that could imply that a certain product is made in Italy when this is not the case.

This car has been conceived and designed in Italy, but is manufactured in Poland, along with other vehicles of the Stellantis Group with whom it shares a platform. So they had no choice but to remove Milano and chose the name Junior as a substitute. And now, let's get to the important part.

This is what the Alfa Romeo Junior looks like on the outside

Starting with the design, the new Alfa Junior belongs to the B-SUV segment and uses the Stellantis e-CMP2 platform. This is why it shares architecture with some of its most direct rivals, such as the Opel Mokka, the Jeep Avenger or the Peugeot 2008 itself. However, visually they do not look alike, at least on the outside.

Here, the large central shield and the headlights, both supported by a dark lower moulding, are particularly striking. The enormous grille, which is almost at ground level and which, unfortunately, is regulated by law, is also striking. It also does not have a license plate on one side as is characteristic of many cars from the Italian firm. They had to put it in the middle.

From the side we can highlight the possibility of having a two-tone body with a black roof, hidden rear door handles, 17, 18 and even 20 inch wheels In the future, black wheel arches and the brand logo on the rear pillar will be added. At the rear, the LED taillights take centre stage, along with the aerodynamic lip, the roof spoiler and the prominent bumper.

Quality interior with personal details

It is inside where we see certain details specific to Alfa Romeo, such as the rounded visors that shade the customizable digital instrument panel or the use of high-quality materials in certain parts of the dashboard. However, there are many parts inherited from other manufacturers, such as the buttons for the windows, the steering wheel controls, the multimedia screen or the transmission selector.

Leaving that aside, we have a quality perception superior to most of its “cousins”, although it is no less true that our test unit is the top of the range and, in addition, with optional packages that increase luxury based on specific upholstery. Of course, let's not forget that it is a model for the B-SUV segment; that is, It is far from an Alfa Stelvio in materials and adjustments.

I like that we have good storage spaces, especially in the center console, which includes a couple of USB sockets and a wireless charging tray for smartphones. By the way, we can have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without cable.

It is also positive that the Climate control is via buttonsI am less convinced by the fact that gloss black is used in certain parts of the dashboard and console or that the seat belts have no adjustment.

Rear habitability and trunk space

Access to the rear seats is relatively easy, although it is not the best in the segment. Once inside, there is good headroom and, let's say, adequate knee room if we are four adults who are not taller than 1,80m. However, as there is no rear window and due to the whims of the exterior design, We don't have a great sense of spaciousness.

What has left me a little cold in this second row is not only that we do not have a central armrest, but that We don't have any gaps in the doors either. We imagine that Alfa has decided this way to improve the width by a few centimetres. There are no central air vents and we do find a USB socket.

In turn, the trunk The Alfa Romeo Junior has a capacity of 415 litres in the hybrid version and exactly 400 in the electric version. It has a floor at two heights and in terms of space we could say that it is slightly above the average for the category.

Alfa Romeo Junior engines: Hybrid and electric

As we said at the beginning, the Alfa Romeo Junior is marketed in “Ibrida” and “Elettrica” versions, which carry Eco and Zero labels respectively. There is no manual transmission option and they are front-wheel drive, although the range will be expanded later with a Q4 variant for the hybrid.

Without a doubt, in Spain the car will sell much more. Alfa Romeo Junior IbridaIt uses a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, 136-hp turbo petrol engine with timing chain. A 28-hp electric motor is integrated into the six-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which provides support in certain situations and helps to slightly reduce emissions and consumption.

Its figures also include a torque of 230 Nm, 0 to 100 km/h in 8,9 seconds and a maximum speed of 206 km/h. The approved consumption is 5,2 liters per 100.

Then there is the Alfa Romeo Junior Electric, which as we said at the beginning is the first electric car from the Italian firm. It has a 51 kWh battery (net) capable of recharging at powers of up to 100 kW in direct current, allowing it to go from 20 to 80% of the charge in 27 minutes.

It also has front-wheel drive via an electric motor. 156 hp and 260 Nm, approving a top speed limited to 150 km/h and a 0 to 100 in exactly 9 seconds. The autonomy is 410 kilometers in the WLTP homologation cycle.

At the end of the year a new one will land Veloce version with no less than 280 hp, specific set-up, more direct steering, oversized brakes and suspension tuned for the occasion that will position itself as the most powerful option in the range. It will retain the 51 kWh battery and front-wheel drive.

Driving the electric Alfa Romeo Junior

During this first contact we have not had the opportunity to drive hundreds of kilometers, but enough for the Alfa Romeo Junior to leave us with a good taste in our mouths. We have tested it only in the 156 hp electric version.

Of all its Stellantis “cousins”, the one that has reminded me most of the Peugeot 2008 in terms of driving, but with a slightly more “sporty” feel. It has a firm suspension, but not uncomfortable. I like this, because it allows us to feel the car a little more in the curves and handle it more precisely, although a Jeep Avenger is more comfortable, for example.

Also noteworthy is its steering, very much in the Alfa style, as it has few turns of the wheel and we need to turn the wheel very little so that the wheels point towards the inside of the curve. In fact, I think it has the most direct steering in this B-SUV segmentIn any case, let's not forget that it is not a sports car either, but one that does not suffer if we go at a fast pace.

As far as the engine and response are concerned, logically in the city we have plenty of energy to move with a lot of Agility, fluidity and also softnessOn the road it responds well and it is easy to make safe overtakings with it, with good recovery.

However, despite having several selectable driving modes with the typical Alfa DNA and a B mode that increases retention, I missed some paddles on the steering wheel to play with energy recovery more easily when descending a mountain road. You can't have everything, I guess...

Pricing

Lastly, The Alfa Romeo Junior starts at exactly 29.000 euros in its 136 hp hybrid version and with the entry-level equipment. It is not cheap, but given the current market situation, it does not seem like an excessive price to me, considering that it comes well equipped as standard, that we have a 136 HP engine, automatic transmission and Eco label.

Meanwhile The starting price of the electric Alfa Junior is 38.500 euros without including any kind of special discount or aid. In this case, it seems more difficult to justify, honestly, even more so knowing that you have a Tesla Model 3 with almost twice the power and larger size for just 3.000 euros more.